When you encounter the verb 「味わう」 (ajiwau), it most commonly means to taste or to savor food and drink. It implies enjoying the flavor deeply, not just eating quickly. For example, you might 「料理の味を味わう」 (ryouri no aji o ajiwau), meaning to savor the taste of a dish.
Beyond food, 「味わう」 can also be used in a more abstract sense to mean experiencing something fully or appreciating it. You can 「人生を味わう」 (jinsei o ajiwau) to mean experiencing life to the fullest, or 「喜びを味わう」 (yorokobi o ajiwau) which means to really feel joy. It conveys a sense of deep engagement with whatever you are experiencing.
Examples by Level
ゆっくりとコーヒーの味を味わう。
Slowly taste the coffee.
新しい経験を十分に味わう。
Fully enjoy the new experience.
ワインの微妙な味を味わう。
Savor the subtle taste of wine.
家族との時間を大切に味わう。
Cherish and enjoy time with family.
人生の喜びを味わう。
Experience the joys of life.
彼の苦しみを味わう。
Feel his suffering.
この美しい景色を心ゆくまで味わう。
Enjoy this beautiful scenery to your heart's content.
彼の言葉の深みを味わう。
Appreciate the depth of his words.
Often Confused With
This means 'to taste (to check the flavor).' It's a quick action to verify seasoning, not necessarily to savor.
This means 'to sample food,' typically in a store or at an event. It's for trying something new, not necessarily savoring in depth.
While '味わう' can be used metaphorically for 'to experience,' '経験する' is the direct verb for 'to experience' in a general sense (e.g., experiencing difficulties, experiencing a culture).
Easily Confused
Many learners confuse this with 'taste' as a verb. However, '味' is primarily a noun meaning 'flavor' or 'taste' (as in the sensation).
Use '味' when referring to the flavor itself, or the characteristic taste of something. For the act of tasting or savoring, '味わう' is appropriate.
この料理は<b>味</b>がいいね。(This dish has a good <b>flavor</b>, doesn't it?)
While '美味しい' means 'delicious,' learners sometimes use it in contexts where '味わう' would be more fitting, implying the act of savoring rather than just stating something is delicious.
'美味しい' is an adjective describing the food itself. '味わう' is a verb describing the action of tasting and appreciating the food.
このケーキは本当に<b>美味しい</b>です。(This cake is really <b>delicious</b>.)
Both '食べる' and '味わう' involve putting food in your mouth, but their nuances are different.
'食べる' simply means 'to eat.' '味わう' implies eating slowly, appreciating the flavor, or savoring. You '食べる' quickly, but you '味わう' thoughtfully.
彼はお昼ごはんを<b>食べる</b>のが速い。(He <b>eats</b> lunch quickly.)
Similar to '食べる', '飲む' (to drink) is a basic action, whereas '味わう' can also apply to drinks, emphasizing the act of savoring.
'飲む' is the basic action of drinking. '味わう' with drinks means to sip and appreciate the nuances of the flavor.
ゆっくりとワインを<b>飲む</b>。(To <b>drink</b> wine slowly.)
Since '味わう' can mean 'to enjoy the flavor,' some learners might equate it with '楽しむ' (to enjoy). However, '楽しむ' is much broader.
'楽しむ' means 'to enjoy' in a general sense (e.g., enjoying a movie, enjoying a trip). '味わう' specifically refers to enjoying the taste or experience of something, often with a sensory focus.
映画を<b>楽しむ</b>。(To <b>enjoy</b> a movie.)
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine you're saying 'Ah, G-Wow!' because the food tastes so good, you want to *savor* it. *Ajiwau*!
Visual Association
Picture a chef closing his eyes in bliss as he *tastes* a delicious dish. He's really *enjoying the flavor*, savoring every bite. Think of the kanji 味 (taste) in 味わう.
Word Web
Challenge
Think about a time you really savored something, like a special meal or a beautiful moment. Describe it in Japanese using 味わう. For example: 「昨日、美味しいコーヒーをゆっくり味わいました。」(Kinou, oishii koohii o yukkuri ajiwaimashita. - Yesterday, I slowly savored a delicious coffee.)
Test Yourself 42 questions
Choose the correct hiragana for 味わう:
The correct hiragana spelling for 味わう is あじわう.
Which of these means 'to taste'?
味わう (ajiwau) specifically means 'to taste' or 'to enjoy the flavor'. 食べる (taberu) means 'to eat', 飲む (nomu) means 'to drink', and 見る (miru) means 'to see'.
What is the meaning of 「このケーキを味わってください。」?
「味わってください。」 (ajiwatte kudasai) means 'Please taste it.'
味わう is a verb that means 'to drink'.
味わう means 'to taste' or 'to enjoy the flavor', not 'to drink'.
You can use 味わう when talking about enjoying the flavor of food.
味わう is used for tasting and enjoying the flavor of food.
The kanji for 味わう is 味.
The kanji for 味わう is 味わう, which includes the kanji 味 (taste) but is not just 味 by itself.
Listen for 'delicious'.
Listen for 'drink coffee'.
Listen for 'tea'.
Read this aloud:
美味しいです。
Focus: o-i-shi-i
You said:
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Read this aloud:
水をください。
Focus: mi-zu
You said:
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Read this aloud:
ご飯を食べます。
Focus: go-han
You said:
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このワインは熟成されており、口の中で複雑な香りが___。
文脈から、ワインの複雑な香りを「楽しむ」または「感じる」という意味合いが適切です。「味わう」は味覚だけでなく、感覚全体で楽しむニュアンスも持ちます。
彼のスピーチは聴衆の心に深く響き、人生の奥深さを___時間となった。
「人生の奥深さを味わう」は、単に理解するだけでなく、その深みをじっくりと感じ取る、経験するという意味で使われます。
長い旅の終わりには、故郷の料理をゆっくりと___のが最高の喜びだ。
「味わう」は、単に食べるだけでなく、その味や食感をじっくりと楽しむ、堪能するという意味合いで使われます。
初めての海外旅行で、異文化を全身で___ことができたのは貴重な経験だった。
「異文化を味わう」は、その文化を多角的に、深く体験し、その本質に触れるという意味で適切です。
彼は成功の喜びを___暇もなく、次のプロジェクトに取り掛かった。
「喜びを味わう」は、その喜びをじっくりと感じ、堪能するという意味で使われます。ここでは、その時間もなかった、というニュアンスです。
この映画は、現代社会の抱える問題を深く___ことができる作品だ。
映画を通して問題の深さを「味わう」ことで、視聴者がその問題について深く感じ入り、考えさせられるというニュアンスが伝わります。
The speaker is describing the characteristics of a wine. Listen for words related to taste and texture.
The speaker is recalling a memorable food experience from a trip. Focus on the feeling associated with the taste.
The speaker is describing how someone engaged with a movie. The word '味わう' can be used figuratively.
Read this aloud:
このコーヒーは、豊かな香りと苦みが絶妙に調和しています。
Focus: 香りと苦み (kaori to nigami)
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Read this aloud:
彼のスピーチは、人生の経験からくる重みがあり、心に深く響きました。
Focus: 重みがあり (omomi ga ari)
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Read this aloud:
この本は、読むたびに新しい発見があり、何度も味わいたくなります。
Focus: 何度も味わいたくなります (nandomo ajawaitaku narimasu)
You said:
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このワインは熟成されており、口の中で複雑な香りが___。
文脈から、ワインの複雑な香りを『楽しむ』、つまり『味わう』ことが適切です。
長年の努力の末、彼は成功の喜びを___ことができた。
『成功の喜びを味わう』は、その感情を深く経験し、楽しむことを意味します。
異文化に触れることで、人生の新たな側面を___ことができる。
異文化体験を通じて人生の新たな側面を『深く感じる』、『楽しむ』というニュアンスで『味わう』が適切です。
困難な状況でも、小さな幸せを___ことが大切だ。
『小さな幸せを味わう』は、その幸せを心から感じ、楽しむことを表します。
この映画は、現代社会の課題を深く___ことができる作品だ。
映画を通じて社会の課題を『深く理解し、その本質に触れる』という意味で『味わう』が適切です。
彼は初めて訪れた京都の美しい風景を、ゆっくりと___。
『風景を味わう』は、その景色を心ゆくまで堪能し、その美しさを深く感じることを意味します。
This sentence means 'Life deepens by experiencing difficulties.' The particle 'は' marks '人生' (life) as the topic. '困難を味わう' means 'to experience difficulties.' 'ことで' indicates the means or cause, and '深まる' means 'to deepen.'
This sentence means 'The chef wants you to savor each dish with all your heart.' '料理人' (chef) is the subject. '一品一品' means 'each and every dish.' '心を込めて' means 'with all one's heart' or 'sincerely.' '味わってほしい' is the 'te-form' of '味わう' (to taste/savor) followed by 'ほしい' (to want someone to do something).
This sentence means 'The real thrill of travel is experiencing the culture of each place.' '旅' (travel) is the topic. 'それぞれの土地の文化' means 'the culture of each respective land.' 'を味わう' means 'to experience.' '醍醐味' refers to the true pleasure or real thrill, and 'だ' is the plain form of 'です' (is).
This wine has a smooth taste and deep flavor. With every sip, the scenery of the vineyard comes to mind.
His speech not only conveyed information but also delved into the subtleties of life, resonating deeply with the listeners' hearts.
Years of effort bore fruit, and the goal was finally achieved. We shared this sense of accomplishment with our comrades and savored the sweet taste of victory to our hearts' content.
Read this aloud:
この劇は、観る者に人間の普遍的な感情を深く味わわせる傑作だ。
Focus: 深く味わわせる
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Read this aloud:
人生の苦楽を味わい尽くした彼の言葉には、重みと説得力があった。
Focus: 味わい尽くした
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Read this aloud:
異文化に触れることで、私たちは日常では得られない新鮮な感動を味わうことができる。
Focus: 新鮮な感動を味わう
You said:
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/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More food words
少々
B1A little; a few.
〜ほど
B1About; approximately; degree.
~ほど
B1About, approximately; to the extent of ~.
豊富な
B1Abundant, rich in.
ふんだんに
B1Lavishly; abundantly; generously (e.g., using ingredients).
足す
B1To add (e.g., to a sum, to ingredients).
添加物
B1Additive.
〜てから
B1After doing ~.
~てから
B1After doing (an action).
熟成させる
B1To age; to mature (food).
